Imperfect
Subjunctive
The imperfect subjunctive is used just like the
present subjunctive:
Noun clauses: If there’s emotion, doubt/denial, es
+ adj. + que, or an indirect command in the
main clause, you need subjunctive in the
dependent clause.
Adjective clauses: If the object being described
doesn’t exist or may not exist, you need
subjunctive in the dependent clause.
Adverb clauses: certain conjunctions require the
subjunctive; time conjunctions require the
subjunctive if the action in the clause hasn’t
occurred yet.
The difference is that you need to use imperfect
subjunctive if you need a past tense:
I doubt that he studies. – “he studies” would be
present subjunctive.
I doubt that he studied. – “he studied” would be
imperfect subjunctive.
Forming the Imperfect Subjunctive
Forming the imperfect subjunctive is very easy . . . if you’ve
mastered forming the subjunctive, which is very hard.
To form the imperfect subjunctive, go to the third person plural
of the preterit:
hablé
hablaste
habló
hablamos
hablasteis
hablaron
comí
comiste
comió
comimos
comisteis
comieron
Drop the –ron and add the following endings (same for –ar, -er,
-ir verbs):
-ra -΄ramos
-ras -rais
-ra -ran
hablara habláramos
hablaras hablarais
hablara hablaran
comiera comiéramos
comieras comierais
comiera comieran
There are no exceptions, no irregularities,
because, without fail, you go to the third person
plural of the preterit, drop the –ron, and add the
imperfect subjunctive endings listed on the
previous page. However, there are lots of
irregulars and stem-changing verbs in the
preterit, such as the following:
fueron
supieron
durmieron
pidieron
leyeron
estuvieron
quisieron
dijeron
Click here to go to a lesson on the preterit.
Click here to go to a brief practice exercise.
Click here to go to your homework.